EMPTYING THE NOGGIN—Jazz see old friends and fall to them as new foes

Fun night at EnergySolutions Arena to start off a great week of NBA basketball. Millsap, Korver and Carroll all coming back to play in Salt Lake. The crowd loved seeing them and we got a close, exciting game in the end.

The Jazz played dead early (which is very common after a long road trip) and then fired out of the third quarter and went on a 28-16 run to get back in the game. They had the lead heading into the fourth quarter. Utah’s third-quarter run was initiated by a good defensive effort that allowed them to get out into the open floor and make a bunch of plays in the fast break. In the half court they ran it through Enes Kanter, and he was very good. He made a few nice plays in the post, and then when they started to double he passed out nicely and created opportunities for his teammates with his post presence.

Huge sequence of the game: it was tied at 96-96 and then Favors had an awesome block of Teague but the ball squirted out to Antic, who kicked to DeMarre Carroll for a 3-pointer to take a three-point lead. On the next possession, the Jazz executed well and Marvin got a straight-down-the-barrel, wide-open look from three and he front-rimmed it. The Jazz got another stop and then Marvin had another good-look three and it rimmed out as well. Korver followed with a jumper on a tough look in front of the Jazz bench and the Jazz were down by five points without much time to come back.

Marvin is shooting only 25% from 3-point range over the last seven games.

Gordon Hayward had a slow start and turned it into a strong game with 13 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and two steals. He also had five turnovers.

The Jazz had a miserable time guarding Kyle Korver to start the game. He had Richard trailing him, while Burks went under … and nothing was working. Korver was lighting the Jazz up.

Burke had 21 in the second half after a two-point first half. He went to the rim more and attacked a few times in the open court.

Utah got the fast break going in the third quarter but in the fourth quarter became a half court slow-down team. Utah’s pace of play for the season is 27th and has been slower in the recent stretch.

Four assists for Alec Burks, who is playing with a nice rhythm and is not forcing the game. He has made enormous strides.

Marvin and Richard got their game back tonight. Marvin had 18 points and six rebounds, and Richard had 15 points and had some nice open-floor plays.

Remember how awesome it was to have Kyle Korver closing out games on the line?

DeMarre Carroll was 3-for-5 from behind the arc. He has made 75 this year. He made 20 last year, seven the year before that, and zero the two years prior to that.

Millsap has attempted 159 3-pointers this season. He went 2-for-4 tonight.